MCCF
Board of Trustees
Kim von Kronenberger
Kim von Kronenberger takes an active role in supporting the Mecosta County community. Kim holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Management Studies from Indiana University and is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking. His community activities include serving on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, Friends of Ferris, and Shamrock Invitational. He serves as Chair for Mecosta County Community Foundation. Not only does he serve on various boards, he also volunteers his time and supports other charities through participation at many community events. Kim, his wife and four grown children reside in Canadian Lakes. He enjoys white-tail deer hunting, fishing and boating.
Tom Tacia
Giving back to the community is something Tom and his wife Tracie have always made a priority in their lives. Tom has lived in Mecosta County for over 30 years and has built his business, Tacia Wealth Management, as a Financial Advisor. In addition to helping people manage their assets, Tom finds time to volunteer with a wide variety of organizations. These organizations include; the Shamrock Invitational, Friends of Ferris, Spirit of the Season, and the finance committee of St. Mary School. Tom and his wife are passionate about being involved with St. Mary’s School, where their two daughters, Libbie and Torrie, attend. With all of these undertakings, Tom still finds time to go hunting, fishing and get out on the golf course.
Matt Currie
Matt was born and raised in Big Rapids. As a graduate of Ferris State University with a small business degree, he is self-employed as an equine dentist and assists in managing his family’s store. Giving back to the community is very important to Matt and he is continually looking for ways to do so. He serves on the Mecosta County Fair Board and enjoys racing harness horses. Matt is married to Amanda and they have two children with one on the way. Serving as a trustee for Mecosta County Community Foundation allows Matt to be part of something bigger for his community and provide a better future for his family.
Laura Rhoades
In 2010, Laura Rhoades moved from her hometown of Toledo, Ohio to Mecosta County. Her work with Mecosta County Community Foundation has allowed her to get to know her new community and create a better place to live and work in. Laura is a graduate of Miami University with a degree in speech communication, emphasis in public relations. Outside of work, Laura serves as Vice Chair of the board and athletic director for St. Mary’s School, where her daughters Julia and Emily attend. In addition to work and volunteering, Laura loves to travel and spend time with her girls.
Todd Balkema
Todd received his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University majoring in political science and economics. He received his juris doctorate degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan and is also a member of numerous professional organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. His practice concentration is in the area of elder law with an emphasis in long-term care planning, special needs planning, probate, and trust administration. He currently resides in Big Rapids with his wife and youngest son.
Dr. Ralph Crew
Dr Crew is a semiretired Ophthalmologist who has practiced in Mecosta County for over 30 years. In addition to his local practice, he has been involved in medical education in Grand Rapids and has completed over 35 international mission trips where he performs cataract surgery. He has created a website for wildflower identification titled wildflowersmichigan.com and has written two books, Inspirational Snowflakes and Retirement Planning for Young Physicians. Happily married to his wife, Kay, for over forty years he enjoys spending time with her and their two children and 5 grandchildren. When not working he enjoys cycling, photography, botanizing and hockey.
Emily Fransted
Emily Fransted is a graduate of Michigan State University where she earned her B.A. and her Juris Doctorate. Thereafter, she obtained a clerkship in the 49th Circuit Court under the Honorable Scott P. Hill-Kennedy and Ronald C. Nichols and worked in private practice at Lobert & Fransted, P.C., in Big Rapids. Emily serves as the Vice President of the Mecosta-Osceola Bar Association, an executive board member of the Rotary Club of Big Rapids, and a board member of the Youth Attention Center. She is also a co-adviser of Phi Alpha Delta, the Ferris pre-law fraternity. She and her husband have two children and reside in the Howard City area.
Renee Kent
Renee Kent is a lifelong resident of Big Rapids. She considers it a privilege to have grown up in this small community. As a graduate of Ferris State University and Central Michigan University in education, she has continued in that area benefitting Big Rapids Public Schools with her knowledge and experience. It is important to Renee to help bring a positive change to the community and make it a great place to be. Along with Mecosta County Community Foundation, she volunteers with Ferris State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. In her spare time, Renee loves to be outdoors and spend time camping, biking, playing tennis and snowshoeing.
Steve Sims
As the Technical Services Manager for the Haworth Facilities in Big Rapids, Steve is proud to be able to work in the county where he was born and raised. Steve is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of Ferris State University. Steve gives back to his community by serving on the boards for Mecosta County Development Corporation and Mecosta County Community Foundation. Serving on the Community Foundation board allows Steve to use his experiences to improve the quality of life for generations to come in Mecosta County. In his free time, Steve enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife Kirstin and their three children, Justin, Keegan and Ally.
Mark Young
Mark is a Doctor of Pharmacy at Ferris State University. He is passionate about many areas of pharmacy including long-term care, home infusion, oncology, and hospital-based practice. Mark, along with his wife and their two children, own and operate Young Farms, a winery, vineyard, and blueberry farm in Mecosta. He is also active in Michigan Special Olympics-Winter Games.